UFO-Nytt - 2005 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NYTT
Issue: 1
Volume: 1
Year: 2005
Publisher: Västerbergslagens UFO-förening
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of UFO NYTT serves as the inaugural publication from the Västerbergslagens UFO-förening, dated 2005. The cover prominently features the magazine's title in a gothic font, along with the issue number and year, and the name of the organizing UFO association. A stylized illustration of a flying saucer is also present on the cover.

Table of Contents

The issue's table of contents outlines a variety of articles, including:

• Förord (Foreword): A personal reflection by Gudrun Andersson on the past year, her interests, and the challenges of maintaining active participation in associations.
• Glesbygdsskrönor (Rural Chronicles): Several anecdotal accounts of unexplained phenomena observed in rural areas.
• Astronomi (Astronomy): Information on celestial events and planetary visibility.
• Ur UFO Journal (From UFO Journal): Reports of UFO sightings from various international sources.
• Fågelfrö! (Birdseed!): A humorous anecdote.
• VILKET UFO! (What a UFO!): A brief description of a UFO.
• På spåret av 8000 års skomode (On the Trail of 8000 Years of Shoe Fashion): An article on archaeological findings related to ancient footwear.

Foreword

Gudrun Andersson's foreword reflects on a year of personal challenges, including a physical setback that required inventiveness. She emphasizes the importance of living life and pursuing enjoyable interests, leading her to prioritize UFO interest and archaeology over folk dancing. Andersson expresses hope for more outdoor activities and the continuation of UFO observations. She also addresses the common issue of declining active participation in associations, questioning the motivation for continuing when new members are scarce, and suggesting the need for new organizational formats to maintain personal contact in an increasingly digital world.

Rural Chronicles (Glesbygdsskrönor)

This section presents several eyewitness accounts of unusual events:

• Bergsmansgård Incident: A couple in a large farmhouse witnessed a bright, luminous sphere moving past their window late at night. The object illuminated the entire bedroom and was seen moving towards Stimmerbo.
• Stimmerbo Hunter's Sighting: A hunter in Stimmerbo observed a light flying over his house, which his mother initially mistook for a light inside the room. The light was described as moving slowly.
• Lake Gäsen Event: In the 1940s, two fishermen on Lake Gäsen heard a bang and saw a small flying object with short wings, causing them to fear the outbreak of war.
• Village Light Phenomenon: Before electricity was common in villages, a large light was seen over a village, appearing to land in a nearby forest. The next day, a burnt ring was found in a clearing.
• Field Sighting: Three men driving near Rånäsberget and Torrbo saw a large, silent light on the ground in an open field. They stopped to observe it, and the next day found no tracks, despite the presence of snow.
• The Strangest Story: A man recounts a story from a weekly magazine about an experience he had as a young skier. He encountered a strange craft, then found himself back on the ski track, disoriented and ill. Years later, while vacuuming, he saw a TV program showing a skier being lifted into a craft, which he believed was himself. He later shared this story at a UFO exhibition in Borlänge, where he claimed to have worked in Ludvika.
• Bus Driver's Encounter: A bus driver reported seeing an object descend towards the road between Söderbärke and Fagersta. The object then stood on its edge and moved away at high speed. The witness was known for being difficult but recounted the event.

Andersson concludes this section by acknowledging these accounts as anecdotes rather than formal reports, but argues for their value due to the credibility of the narrators, who have no apparent motive to fabricate their experiences.

Astronomy (Astronomi)

This section provides information on celestial observations for the year:

• Planetary Visibility: Details on when and where to best observe Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
• Eclipses: Information on two solar and two lunar eclipses, noting which were visible from Sweden.
• Meteor Showers: Dates for the Quadrantids (January 3-4) and Perseids (August 11-12) meteor showers.

The section includes a quote suggesting that the more diffuse a scientific field, the easier it is to create unprovable theories.

UFO Reports from Abroad

This section compiles UFO sighting reports from various international sources:

• Iran: Numerous UFO sightings were reported in Iran, with media coverage including drawings of spacecraft and footage of a white, disc-shaped object over Teheran. Reports mention UFOs emitting colored beams over Tabriz and Ardebil, and a public rush to see lights entering and exiting clouds in eight cities.
• Mexico: A blinking light was observed from an airplane window over Tijuana, which descended, moved right, and then ascended again.
• Arizona, USA: A man reported seeing a rotating object emitting sparks near Gold Canyon, initially mistaken for fireworks. He later saw a similar craft at a lower altitude, described as running or flowing lights.
• Pennsylvania, USA: Two disk-shaped objects, described as plates or saucers, were seen moving at high speed from east to west over Ford City.
• Virginia, USA: A witness in Midlothian observed an object with blue, red, and white lights moving over a forest, later described as a red sphere and a white cigar-shaped object.

Archaeology: 8000 Years of Shoe Fashion

This article discusses the discovery of ancient North American footwear. Over 40 years ago, an amateur archaeologist found 35 sandals in a cave in Missouri, USA. Carbon-14 dating revealed that the oldest sandal is approximately 8000 years old, while the youngest is about 1100 years old. The oldest sandal closely resembles handmade sandals sold in Mexican markets today. The article notes that the desire for personal adornment through footwear is at least 8000 years old, predating other personal ornaments like jewelry by several millennia. The findings challenge the notion that Native Americans exclusively wore moccasins from ancient times, as the two youngest shoes found were indeed moccasins, while the older ones were made from woven plant fibers.

Humorous Anecdotes and Greetings

The issue includes a few humorous items:

• A joke about a waiter and soup.
• A joke about a fly on skates.
• Congratulations to Ingrid Pettersson and Christina Kvarning for correctly answering questions in a previous issue's "Top 13" quiz.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, astronomical phenomena, and ancient history, particularly as it relates to human behavior and technology. The editorial stance, as expressed in the foreword and the inclusion of various anecdotal reports, is one of open-minded inquiry into unexplained phenomena, while also acknowledging the importance of personal experiences and the challenges of maintaining engagement in interest groups. The magazine appears to value firsthand accounts and encourages readers to share their own observations and reflections.

This issue of "Tidskriften UFO" (UFO Magazine), dated May 2004, delves into a variety of topics ranging from human evolution and climate change to archaeological discoveries and numerous unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs).

Human Evolution and Climate Change

The lead article, "Torka gjorde oss till riktiga människor" (Drought Made Us Into Real Humans), explores the connection between climate change and human evolution. Paleontological research, based on sediment analysis from the seabed off the coast of Africa, indicates that significant climate shifts occurred approximately 2.8, 1.7, and 1 million years ago. These periods of drier and colder climates in Africa are correlated with key stages in human evolution: the divergence of the human lineage around 2.8 million years ago, the emergence of Homo erectus around 1.7 million years ago, and the expansion of Homo erectus to new territories as savannas grew.

The article posits that as savannas replaced forests, a split occurred in humanity, favoring taller individuals. This led to the extinction of more robust types and the rise of Homo erectus, and later Homo sapiens.

Archaeology and Geology

Another section, "Varför är arkeologiska fynd täckta av flera meter jord?" (Why Are Archaeological Finds Covered by Several Meters of Soil?), explains that the accumulation of soil over archaeological sites is a result of both natural processes and human activity. Natural causes include volcanic eruptions (like Pompeii), landslides, and sandstorms, while human actions such as building and urban development also contribute to burying ancient remains.

Further geological discussions include the impact of a massive volcanic eruption in 1453 near Kuwae (now Tongoa and Epi islands in Vanuatu). This eruption, estimated to be as powerful as two million Hiroshima bombs, caused global climate changes, leading to poor harvests in 1453-1454 and impacting tree growth, as evidenced by tree rings. The article suggests this event, which produced a large ash cloud, may have contributed to the fall of Constantinople in May 1453, citing unusual weather phenomena like hailstorms, thick fog, a lunar eclipse, and a red glow over the Hagia Sophia.

Another geological topic covers the movement of Earth's magnetic poles, explained by the two-layered structure of the planet's mantle. Italian researchers proposed two models for convection currents in the mantle; a model with two distinct convection layers better explains the observed speed of polar migration than a single-layer model.

An archaeological discovery in Oaxaca, Mexico, is detailed: a 1500-year-old underground tomb found beneath the ruins of a Zapotec palace city. The tomb contained the remains of three individuals, one seated and adorned with a green stone bead, suggesting high status. It also held 25 pottery vessels, and outside the chamber, eleven more storage vessels and loose teeth that had been treated by ancient dentists.

UFO Sightings and Reports

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to UFO reports from Sweden and the USA.

The Domsten Incident

The most detailed account is the "Domsten saucer" case from December 1958. Anna Berggren recounts the experience of her son, Stig, and his friend Hans, who claimed to have encountered a UFO and alien beings near Domsten, Sweden. They described a disk-shaped craft and tall, grey, banana-shaped figures. The incident reportedly caused their car engine to fail and led to significant disbelief and social problems for the witnesses. Despite being investigated by police and the military, and undergoing hypnosis, their story was met with skepticism. The article notes that Stig died in 1984, and Hans died in the 1960s.

Other Swedish Sightings

• Gällivare Area: Reports from the Gällivare region in northern Sweden include a sighting of a strange, unidentifiable light in October 2003 by three moose hunters, and a similar event in October 2003 near Moskojärvi, where Mats Josefsson and Roger Johansson reported seeing a red and white object with rings hovering over a lake before accelerating away at high speed. The latter event was photographed.
• Vänersborg: In August 1997, a private individual filmed two spherical objects in daylight. The film was sent to MUFON in Atlanta but could not be investigated.
• Holmträsk, Kalix: In January 2004, Stefan and Leila Scott observed a long, silent, aluminum-colored object with wings and a pointed nose moving low and slowly. They described it as sounding like a microwave oven.
• Håknäs, Umeå: In August 1991, three people saw a white, tubular object with a pointed front and a black rear moving slowly. An investigation by the security police resulted in a six-page report that was classified as secret for national security reasons.

International Sightings

• New Jersey, USA: Several reports from New Jersey include a sighting of four lights in March 2004 near Hopewell, followed by blinking lights around the witnesses' car. Another report from April 2004 describes an orange celestial body moving at high speed.
• Tennessee, USA: In April 2004, a witness reported a fluorescent, light-ball-like object hovering and then moving upwards into the clouds.
• Minnesota, USA: In March 2004, a triangular object with multiple colored lights was observed moving silently at a moderate altitude. Two helicopters were also seen in the area.

The "Flying Saucer" Myth

The article "UFON SPÖKAR I KULISSEN" (UFOs Haunt the Backstage) discusses the history of UFO phenomena, tracing the term "flying saucer" back to Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting of nine disc-shaped objects in Washington, USA. It also mentions the Roswell incident in 1947, where a UFO allegedly crashed near Roswell, New Mexico, and was accompanied by reports of small alien beings. The article notes that while military explanations involving meteors, balloons, or parachute dummies were offered, the phenomenon has persisted as a popular myth.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained phenomena, particularly UFO sightings, with a focus on Swedish cases. While acknowledging that many sightings have natural explanations, the publication highlights incidents that defy easy categorization, often involving official investigations or witness testimonies that are difficult to dismiss. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these unexplained events, presenting detailed accounts and encouraging readers to draw their own conclusions. There's a clear interest in the intersection of science (paleontology, geology, physics) and the unexplained, suggesting a belief that rigorous investigation can shed light on even the most mysterious occurrences.

This issue of Allers, dated January 2002, features a cover story titled "MIN BRORS SPRATT FICK MIG FAST FÖR LIVET!" (My Brother's Prank Got Me Hooked for Life!), detailing Annelie Rossander's lifelong fascination with UFOs sparked by a childhood prank. The magazine explores the ongoing debate about UFOs, lunar light phenomena, mysterious crystal skulls, meteorological principles, and ancient landscape figures in England.

The UFO Debate: Unresolved

The lead article, "Ufostriden är oavgjord" (The UFO Debate is Unresolved), presents arguments both for and against the extraterrestrial origin of UFOs. Proponents argue that the vast number of observations (over 100,000) suggests a real phenomenon, that many close encounters remain unexplained, and that governments may be hiding evidence. They also cite consistent witness descriptions of small, humanoid beings near UFOs. Skeptics counter that there is a lack of concrete proof, a high incidence of hoaxes, and that unexplained sightings do not automatically confirm alien spacecraft. The article quotes astronomer Carl Sagan's principle that 'extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence' and notes that science generally requires a direct encounter with an alien to be taken seriously.

Lunar Light Phenomena

An article titled "Månens självlysande kratrar" (The Moon's Self-Luminous Craters) discusses unexplained light phenomena observed on the Moon. It highlights the observation by Apollo 11 astronauts on July 19, 1969, of bright flashes near the Aristarchus crater. Astronomers in Bochum also witnessed these lights. The phenomenon has been recorded for centuries, with around 600 cases reported in the last 800 years. While early theories suggested volcanic activity, later research ruled this out. Other observations include luminous bands on the Moon's dark side and color changes in lunar areas. Despite various theories, including icebergs reflecting sunlight or even intelligent life, astronomers lack a definitive explanation. The Aristarchus crater is noted as a key location for these sightings.

Mysterious Crystal Skulls

"Makabra kranier skurna i kristall" (Macabre Skulls Carved in Crystal) investigates the mystery of crystal skulls. Two such skulls, one at the Museum of Mankind in London and another owned by Anna Mitchell-Hedges, are described as being carved from single pieces of rock crystal, weighing about five kilograms each. Their origin is unknown, leading to speculation about Atlantis or extraterrestrial involvement. Archaeologists suggest they might be from ancient Mesoamerican cultures, but their age cannot be determined due to the lack of dating methods. Anna Mitchell-Hedges claims to have found her skull in Belize in 1927, but this account is not corroborated by photographs or official reports from the excavation.

Can a Cyclone Cross the Equator?

This section addresses the question of why cyclones rotate in different directions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and whether they can cross the equator. It explains the Coriolis force, a result of Earth's rotation, which deflects moving objects. This force is strongest at the poles and weakest at the equator. Tropical cyclones require a strong Coriolis force to form and thus cannot form at or cross the equator. The article also debunks the popular notion that water in sinks spins in opposite directions on different hemispheres, stating that the Coriolis force is too weak to influence such small-scale phenomena.

Annelie Rossander's UFO Journey

"MIN BRORS SPRATT FICK MIG FAST FÖR LIVET!" (My Brother's Prank Got Me Hooked for Life!) profiles Annelie Rossander, a Swedish ufologist studying in England. Her interest was ignited by a prank involving a blue light in her parents' garden, which turned out to be her older brother's doing. Despite the initial disappointment, Annelie became deeply interested in UFOs and joined UFO-Sverige, a Swedish organization that collects and analyzes UFO reports. She is currently undergoing distance education in ufology at Tottom College in South Hampton. The article notes that UFO-Sverige maintains a critical stance on the 'ET hypothesis' but Annelie herself is open to the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation. The organization has archives of approximately 13,000 reports, with about 500 classified as 'UFOs' (unexplained). The year 1999 was a record year for reports in Sweden, with 562 cases submitted.

Unexplained Observations from UFO-Sverige's Archive

This section details several unexplained UFO observations from UFO-Sverige's archives:

• Lergravsviken, Gotland, August 5, 1957: A ring-shaped object with a red lamp was seen.
• Trehörningsjö, Ångermanland, March 12, 1969: A large craft (approx. 150m) hovered, with beings described as 'sugar boxes' emerging.
• Gyttorp, Örebro, January 21, 1976: A dark object with illuminated windows was observed over Lake Vikern, leaving a 40-meter circle of melted ice and standing ice crystals.
• Bispberg, Säter, December 31, 1987: An ice-blue, lightbulb-shaped object emitted flashes, causing physical distress to the witness.
• Vänersborg, August 23, 1997: Two light spheres were filmed, merging and changing positions.

England's White Horses

"ENGLANDS VITA HÄSTAR" (England's White Horses) explores the large chalk figures, primarily horses, found on the hillsides of England, particularly in Wiltshire. These figures are created by cutting away the turf to reveal the white chalk beneath. The article explains that many of these figures have known origins, often created by soldiers during World War I or for specific commemorative events, such as royal coronations. However, some, like the Uffington White Horse in Berkshire, are ancient and their exact origins and purpose remain a mystery. Theories suggest they date back to Anglo-Saxon times or were created to commemorate historical victories. The Uffington White Horse is described as unique among the figures for its ancient and enduring nature, with some speculating it resembles a dragon rather than a horse, possibly linked to the nearby Dragon Hill.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores phenomena that challenge conventional understanding, including UFOs, ancient mysteries, and unexplained natural events. There is a clear interest in presenting both sides of debated topics, such as the existence of extraterrestrial life, while also highlighting the scientific and archaeological perspectives. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging research into unexplained phenomena while maintaining a critical approach to evidence, as exemplified by the discussion of UFO reports and the crystal skulls. The inclusion of diverse topics suggests a broad interest in the unusual and the unexplained.